China's demand for Africa's donkeys could be devastating
China’s demand for donkey skins from Africa is rising.
Donkeys and donkey carts play an integral part of the Lekoko Village community in the North West. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News
John Perlman speaks to Lauren Johnston, Senior Researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs.
Listen to the interview in the audio below.
In recent years there has been a rising demand for donkey hides in China, as it is used to make a traditional medicine called ejiao.
Ejiao is made from a combination of collagen from donkey hides and herbs and is thought to strengthen the blood, stop bleeding and improve sleep.
The market for ejiao in China has increased from US$3.2 billion in 2013 to US$7.8 billion in 2020.
The demand is so high that it has led to a shortage of donkeys both in China and other parts of the world.
As the African continent is home to the highest number of donkeys, it is also where China is focusing its donkey trade interests.
This has sparked a massive legal and illicit trade, that is creating challenges for a number of African communities which rely on donkeys.
Johnston says that it is impossible to breed enough donkeys to match the overall demand.
“Donkeys are unwilling to supply that number of donkeys. If you are lucky, they will have one foal every two or three years.”
- Lauren Johnston, Senior Researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs
If this trade is not regulated, we could face a devastating donkey shortage.